Match Preview | Mansfield Town (a)

Jamie Stephens (hamstring) will miss out with his hamstring injury. Harry Taylor (metatarsal), Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro (knee) remain sidelined along with Elliott Johnson (knee) and Dave Tarpey (knee) are both out with long-term injuries.

Dan Sweeney will serve the first of his 3-match ban.

Last Time We Met:

The two sides played out a 1-1 draw back in a scrappy game back in October at The Hive London.

Mansfield took the lead in first half stoppage time, Kane Hemmings getting on the end of Alex MacDonald’s free kick.

In the 85th minute, Barnet levelled through Coulthirst who latched onto the rebound of Wes Fonguck’s effort at goal.

The Bees ramped up the pressure in injury time, Conrad Logan having to hook Charlie Clough’s header over the bar.

Manager:

Steve Evans is current manager of Mansfield Town having been appointed on the 16th November 2016.

In one of his previous roles as manager of Rotherham United, Steve enjoyed immediate success in the role as he guided the club to a first promotion since 2001 by finishing second in League Two. Evans then went onto lead the Club back to the Championship for the first time in nine years to secure a successive promotion after an enthralling League One play-off final victory over Leyton Orient.

Evans joined the Millers from Crawley having enjoyed great success. In the 2010/11 campaign, Steve guided the club into the football league for the first time in their history.

Crawley were promoted as champions by winning the Conference. In the same season, Crawley became the first non-league team for 17 years to reach the last 16 of the FA Cup. They were knocked out by Manchester United where Crawley produced a memorable display at Old Trafford and only lost the game 1-0.

Prior to joining Rotherham, Crawley were also in a great position for successive promotions, a feat they eventually achieved.

Previously Evans was made manager of Boston United Football Club for the second time in March 2004. He was originally appointed manager in October 1998, after success with Dr. Martens Midland Division side Stamford AFC, bringing them the United Counties League Title in 1997 and 1998, whilst also winning promotion to the Dr. Martens League.

His success as manager of Boston in his first four-year spell, was a result of turning a club from relegation candidates to title challengers. He guided the team to a runners-up spot in his first full season, followed by the Conference title in his second, all of which made him a hero with the fans.

As a player Evans began his career with Bolton Wanderers but he moved back up to Scotland, his country of birth, to play for Clyde, Ayr United and then St. Johnstone. He was forced to hang up his boots at just 28 after suffering cruciate knee-ligament injury

Dangerman:

Danny Rose has scored 14 goals across all competitions so far this campaign, alongside 4 assists.

Rose joined Mansfield in the summer of 2016 from Bury. Rose's impressive first season led him to become a firm fans' favourite, regularly putting his body on the line against physical centre-halves and always providing a goal threat.

Born in Barnsley, Rose signed his first professional contract with hometown club.

The striker enjoyed two separate loan spells with Bury – including promotion from League 2 in 2014/15 – before signing permanently for the Lancashire club in August 2014.

Rose made 42 appearances across all competitions in 2016/17, scoring 10 goals as Stags just missed out on a play-off spot.

Last Time Out:

Mansfield climbed to 3rd in the Sky Bet League Two table with a comeback victory in stoppage time over Morecambe last weekend.

Callum Lang gave the home side the lead on the half hour mark and it wasn’t until the 70th minute that Mansfield responded, Danny Rose with a finish from close range.

There were chances for both sides to win it, the Mansfield snatched it in the 94th minute with a scrappy goal from Mal Benning.

Connections:

Shaquile Coulthirst went on loan to Mansfield Town in 2017 from Peterborough United, making 20 league appearances and scoring five goals for The Stags. This was enough for The Bees to sign the striker permanently, where he’s gone on to score ten league goals so far this season and four assists.

Calum Butcher made three league appearances for Barnet in 2009 on loan from Tottenham Hotspur. After making his debut in a 1-1 draw against Bournemouth, he was later allowed to return to his parent club. After spells in Denmark and Scotland, he signed for Mansfield from Millwall in the summer of 2017.